Douluo Continent: Shrek Prince, Getting to the Root of the Matter

"Yu Wudao, don't go too far!"

Ma Xiaotao's fair face flushed slightly, and she frowned, her expression a mix of bravado and fear.

"Too much?"

Yu Wudao lifted her collagen-rich cheek with one hand, wiped it on the corner of her mouth, and then put it into her rosy lips.

He pinched that smooth tongue and said:

"Is this too much? Have I been too good to you?"

"Hmm~"

"Snapped!"

Yu Wudao held her delicate cheek with one hand and slapped her hard again.

"Ever since you attacked me that day, the evil fire has not affected your cultivation in the slightest. In fact, the quality of your flames has been slowly improving under the tempering of the evil fire! Do you think this is all I should do? Do you think it's so simple?"

"..."

Ma Xiaotao turned her head away and remained silent.

It wasn't that she didn't want to argue, but rather that after so much time, she had come to realize that not arguing was her best option.

Answer me!

Yu Wudao forcefully turned Ma Xiaotao's head so she could look directly at him.

"..."

"Hehe~"

Yu Wudao withdrew his hands and let out a contemptuous laugh.

"Do you think your rotten flesh is valuable? Do you treat this as just a transaction, or even something you paid for?"

Ma Xiaotao looked up at Yu Wudao, but still didn't say anything.

Yu Wudao revealed a smile, but Ma Xiaotao felt a sudden panic, as if something bad was about to happen.

He snapped his fingers and said:

"Alright, I'm done playing around. The deal is off! This mark will no longer function. You're free."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ma Xiaotao noticed that something subtle had happened in her body, and the dormant evil fire was stirring again!

She rubbed her legs uncomfortably, then hurriedly looked up to see that Yu Wudao had already reached the door.

"Jade……"

Her lips parted slightly, but the words caught in her throat.

Ma Xiaotao let go of the hand that was trying to stop him, and Yu Wudao completely disappeared from sight.

"I must be crazy! I actually tried to keep him! This kind of thing... it's best to end it!"

……

"It'll be soon! Almost there!"

As Yu Wudao walked back to the outer courtyard, he excitedly muttered to himself, and even his eyes involuntarily turned into golden vertical pupils.

"Ma Xiaotao, become my tool! Your only value is to be a nail driven into the Holy Spirit Cult!"

This idea had been brewing in his mind long before he established trust with Electrolux.

The Holy Spirit Cult is the greatest threat to him on the continent, and in terms of high-end combat power, it is even stronger than Shrek Academy!

Long Xiaoyao, the biggest fool in the world, betrayed them, causing a serious imbalance of power between the Holy Spirit Cult and Shrek Academy!

As a direct descendant of Shrek Academy, Yu Wudao had to consider the threat posed by the Holy Spirit Cult!

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit Cult's stored soul-related resources definitely contain something that can greatly help Electrox recover!

Even if it doesn't help his recovery, it will increase Electrolux's inventory.

However, despite this, Yu Wudao did not possess the strength to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult at this time. He was also uneasy about letting it grow wildly as it did in the original story.

Fortunately, Shrek Academy has two "evil soul masters" that they can use. Tang Ya is one of Bei Bei's people, so Yu Wudao can't easily take action against her.

That leaves only Ma Xiaotao...

Moreover, after Ma Xiaotao "defects," he can use her status as the dean's personal disciple to win over the other member of the "Shrek Twins."

Thinking of this, Yu Wudao couldn't help but look back.

"I believe you won't keep me waiting too long, Phoenix Saintess!"

……

Huo Yuhao has been enjoying a period of great success these past two days!

Not only did he put on a big show in front of his classmates and teachers, but he also successfully made Dai Huabin kowtow and apologize.

Furthermore, after the academy learned of his second martial soul, it convened a special meeting of the Sea God Pavilion and granted him the unprecedented status of a dual core disciple!

It is said that even Yu Wudao did not receive this treatment!

The surprises that followed even seemed to pull him out of the damp corner and back into the sunlight!

But the happy days were soon interrupted by a figure—a woman whose entire body was crimson and whose flames burned fiercely.

"You're Huo Yuhao?"

The woman, looking down at him with a scrutinizing gaze, was none other than Ma Xiaotao.

Huo Yuhao was precisely the source of her confidence to break away from Yu Wudao.

Although she could relieve her lustful desires through promiscuity, Ma Hongjun's experience has proven that this method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. It can provide some relief, but it is uncertain whether it can help her maintain a normal cultivation rhythm.

Moreover, Ma Xiaotao has a strong personality and is unwilling to relieve her inner fire through such means.

Huo Yuhao knew that red school uniforms were standard issue for inner court students, so he wasn't particularly wary and simply nodded, saying:

"Yes, senior, is there something you need from me?"

Ma Xiaotao glanced at him, but did not answer Huo Yuhao's question. She simply said:

"Come with me."

Huo Yuhao scratched his head in confusion but did not refuse, assuming that the academy had something to say to him in person again.

In this timeline, he had not been attacked by Ma Xiaotao and still had full trust in Shrek Academy, so naturally he wouldn't be very wary of a senior from the inner academy.

Ma Xiaotao lifted Huo Yuhao by the collar with one hand, leading him across the Sea God Lake to her cultivation room in the inner courtyard.

"In a moment, you will inject the soul power of the ultimate ice into my back, without touching my body. Don't ask why, just do as I say, and you will be rewarded accordingly."

Ma Xiaotao put Huo Yuhao down, said something, and then sat down cross-legged with her back to him.

Huo Yuhao only realized at this moment that it was this senior from the inner academy who needed his help, not that the academy had any important business to discuss with him.

After understanding all this, he couldn't help but clench his fists.

"Another arrogant nobleman like Dai Huabin! A selfish bastard who doesn't care at all what those around him think!"

Although he wasn't a petty person, Ma Xiaotao's take-it-for-granted attitude and complete disregard for his feelings still greatly displeased Huo Yuhao.

If Ma Xiaotao had properly discussed things with him from the beginning, Huo Yuhao felt that, given his personality, he wouldn't have refused to help! But she clearly had a habit of treating others as servants to be manipulated at will…

Huo Yuhao stood there, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, his expression changing for a long time.

What he hated most in his life was this kind of arrogant aristocracy...

"What's wrong with you? Aren't you going to start? What are you waiting for?"

A cold female voice came from ahead.

Huo Yuhao sighed, and finally obediently sat down cross-legged behind Ma Xiaotao, gathering his soul power and placing his hands on the back of Ma Xiaotao's school uniform...

He wasn't like Yu Wudao, with such an outspoken personality. He had long since learned to habitually hide his emotions and suppress his feelings during his life in the Duke's mansion...